The Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, greeted the world with a sincere ‘namaste’, a traditional Indian way of greeting, as the UAE observed the eighth International Yoga Day.
Community members took part in the ‘Yoga Under the Dome’ session conducted by the Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi and the Indian Embassy as part of the worldwide ‘Guardian Ring’, a programme that witnesses different events being conducted around the world with the movement of the Sun, highlighting the concept of ‘One Sun, One Earth’.
Sheikh Nahyan stated in a video message before the beginning of the session at Louvre Abu Dhabi that it is satisfying to know that those of us observing this 8th International Yoga Day are linked with each other all over the world.
He then shared a heartfelt namaste to everyone and said that this one word of greetings and good wishes speaks volumes on this day.
The Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, took part in the session with other community members. The day is celebrated under the theme, ‘Yoga for Humanity’.
Sheikh Nahyan highlighted that we do our best when we strengthen human contact, involve in constructive dialogue and cooperation, and do all we can to protect human dignity. We do our best together when we move forward with determination to witness that all people have a positive outlook on the future. These values and principles are at the heart of my country’s ideas for its present and its future.
The minister emphasised that the United Arab Emirates is celebrating Yoga Day with a commitment to spreading universal global values as well as international harmony and peace.
Sheikh Nahyan will be the chief guest at the Yoga Day celebrations to be held on the evening of 21 June at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Over 5000 people are estimated to take part in the yoga session.